New Delhi: Congress in-charge of Punjab, Harish Rawat broke the news of Charanjit Singh Channi’s appointment as the new Chief Minister of Punjab on Sunday.
The 48-year-old dalit Congress leader is an MLA from the Chamkaur Sahib assembly constituency. However, the three-time MLA and Punjab Technical Education Minister in former CM Captain Amarinder Singh’s cabinet has had good tryst with controversies in his political career.
A quick look at controversies in Channi’s political career:
In just a few days after being inducted into Punjab cabinet, Charanjit Singh Channi, allegedly on the advice of his astrological adviser, illegally constructed a road outside his official residence. The reason was to get a east-facing entry to his house for political rake-off. The road was later demolished by the Chandigarh authorities within hours.
In a similar controversy, Channi rode an elephant in the lawns of his house reportedly on the advice of his Astrologer. The pictures of his ‘elephant-ride’ act went viral on social media leaving the netizens amused.
On his astrologer’s advice, (new Punjab CM) Charanjit Channi once rode an elephant in the lawns of his house in Kharar, near Chandigarh. The picture went viral. ??
3/n pic.twitter.com/C4nxjYYoL4— Aarish Chhabra | ਆਰਿਸ਼ ਛਾਬੜਾ (@aarishc) September 19, 2021
In another viral video clip in February this year, Channi was seen flipping a coin in order two choose the suitable candidate for the post of a lecturer in a polytechnic college, out of two nominees. The viral video had brought a huge embarrassment to the ruling congress.
Here is an example of how Punjab govt functions.
Punjab Minister for Technical Education Charanjit Singh Channi decides a transfer case by tossing a coin. pic.twitter.com/787E8kBJ3l— Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) February 13, 2018
Once, a big political storm broke out in Capt Amarinder Singh govt after a woman IAS officer accused him of sending “inappropriate” text messages to her. Channi was accused by woman IAS officer of sending inappropriate text messages to her. The 2018 case had brought a storm in the state politics, though no formal action was taken despite Punjab Women Commission’s notice to the Punjab government.
BJP leader Amit Malviya shared a news piece in pretext to the case, after Channi’s appointment as Punjab CM was formally announced.
Congress’s CM pick Charanjit Channi faces action in a 3-year-old #MeToo case. He had allegedly sent an inappropriate text to a woman IAS officer in 2018. It was covered up but the case resurfaced when Punjab Women’s Commission sent notice.
Well done, Rahul.https://t.co/5OV70lwjWT— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 19, 2021
